for several years now, i have been getting SEVERE cramps that go down my left side, from my hip down, I have very painful periods in the vaginal erea, it gets so bad I cant walk, ive went to several doctors, most have treated me like im just after pain pills and have told them, i dont want them, just find whjat is wrong, they never do, I had one doctor do an exam and she found a growth on my overies, I dont have medical insurance of anykind and cant afford any, last month I ended up in the emergency room with kidney stones, they did a cat scan and found I also have a growth on my liver, I have been told this is pretty normal, but what is causing all the pain I feel, there is no yeast infection or anything. Thank you.

Doctor Joshua’s Answer

Thanks for your question. I have very limited information about you - I don’t even know your age. Kidney stones may well account for the painful cramps down your left side. Find some reading about kidney stones, and Google “kidney stones diet” to get ideas how to prevent kidney stones by drinking lots of water and avoiding certain foods.

One other thing comes to mind when reading your description of your painful periods, other symptoms and the findings of your doctors - endometriosis. Have you discussed the possiblility of endometriosis with your doctor? Although obviously I cannot say whether this is in fact endometriosis, it sounds like something that might cause some of your symptoms, although there are numerous other possibilities as well. Help is available for this and for other conditions that might cause these symptoms, but I recommend you see a gynecologist. Ask around, see if your friends can recommend a good one. A vaginal ultrasound may then be recommended by your doctor if she sees that it’s necessary. I understand that you do not have medical insurance, but the only way to get to the bottom of this is to get examined by a doctor.